Summary:
Polk County Schools in Tennessee serves three elementary schools — Benton Elementary School, South Polk Elementary School, and Copper Basin Elementary School — enrolling a combined 1,089 students in grades PK-5 (Copper Basin also serves 6th grade). The district currently ranks 125th out of 141 Tennessee districts (11th percentile), and all three schools have seen their state percentile rankings decline over the past three years, reflecting the broader challenges facing this area.
South Polk Elementary School is the clear standout. It ranks 614th of 1019 schools (40th percentile, 2 stars) and posts the highest proficiency in math (39.6%), ELA (43.1%), and science (38.0%) — with ELA proficiency actually exceeding the state average. It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism (14.9%) and the lowest per-student spending ($11,369). By contrast, Benton Elementary School (796th, 22nd percentile) struggles with 27.1% chronic absenteeism and saw the largest year-over-year test-score drops, with math falling from 34.1% to 22.7%. Copper Basin Elementary School ranks lowest (860th, 16th percentile), has the weakest ELA (27.4%) and science (21.4%) scores, and yet spends the most per student ($12,575).
Several patterns stand out. Higher spending at Copper Basin has not produced better results, while South Polk proves strong outcomes are possible even in a low-ranking district. Attendance appears closely tied to performance, as Benton and Copper Basin both have absenteeism above 23%. South Polk and Copper Basin also show a striking 4th grade cohort effect — South Polk's 4th graders hit 74.4% in math versus 49.4% statewide — while Copper Basin's 6th grade is a critical weakness, with just 9.4% proficient in math. For parents, these differences matter: South Polk is clearly the strongest choice academically, while Benton and Copper Basin will need targeted support on attendance and instruction.
Thank you for your feedback!